The SSE Arena was stunned when Walsh was announced as the winner and was crowned the new WBC International featherweight.
Conlan was expected to beat his opponent convincingly but laboured through 10 difficult rounds that were very tough to score, largely because neither fighter threw a lot of punches.
The Belfast native began round one in a southpaw stance and spent the opening two minutes stalking his opponent, who didn’t seem interested in engaging early on.
Then, as that initial round entered the latter stages, Walsh lunged forward, committed to an attack and managed to land a few shots that flustered Conlan.
In an attempt to restore a sense of dominance, the two-time Olympian did a very un-Conlan-like thing and swiped a lead hook that fell well short of the target.
Things got worse in the second when the American caught the Irishman with a shot that cut him just above the eyebrows, causing a stream of blood to pour down the seasoned star’s face, impairing his vision.
Walsh grew in confidence as the round progressed and started to apply the pressure, throwing short, sharp combinations without much reply.
The homegrown fighter repeatedly attempted to land a heavy lead hook but his opponent was able to read the shot clearly and roll under before escaping unharmed.
Kevin Walsh celebrates after winning the WBC featherweight title from defending champion Michael Conlan at the SSE Arena in Belfast. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The undefeated contender even felt bold enough to start showboating at the beginning of the fourth, but Conlan wouldn’t take the bait and started to regain some composure in the bout.
Switching between southpaw and orthodox, the 34-year-old took centre ring and returned to the original gameplan of stalking his foe, pawing his lead out and trying to set up a counter attack.
Walsh may have only started boxing at 23 years of age but he was experienced enough to not fall for the trap and kept feinting to try and get a read on his much more accomplished opponent.
Despite the Brockton man’s surprise start to the fight, it quickly became very difficult to score as neither boxer seemed willing to really let their hands go and commit fully to making a high-volume attack.
The seventh round saw things finally heat up as Conlan threw caution to the wind for 30 seconds or so and started to overwhelm Walsh with a combination of hooks to the head and body.
In a desperate attempt to make up for conceding those shots, the travelling underdog threw a flurry of his own but only managed to hit the air as the west Belfast brawler evaded the shots successfully.
Walsh even appeared to kick out at one stage – much to the anger of Grant Smith who barged into the ring once the bell went to make his frustrations known to the referee.
The defending champion seemed to have finally found his groove in the eighth. He made the contender miss wildly, before replying with sharp counters of his own.
Walsh may have performed better than most expected him to, but he became obsessed with not falling into Conlan’s trap – so much so that he spent most of the rounds moving in circles and not doing anything of real note.
In an attempt to make up for lost time, the US challenger flew out of the blocks at the start of the tenth and final round and ran after the champion, swinging with everything he could muster and having some success while doing it.
Conlan appeared to have overcome the storm but, with the nine previous rounds so hard to call, Walsh proved enough to swing it in his favour on two of the judges’ score cards.
Here’s how the action unfolded.
Kevin Walsh defeats Michael Conlan by split decision
Wow.
Unbelievable.
The judges have ruled that Kevin Walsh wins by split decision.
97-93 (Conlan), 96-94 (Walsh), 96-94 (Walsh) they call it.
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New WBC international featherweight champion Kevin Walsh
Sum up the fight
First of all, I want to give a shout out to all my fans, everybody that came out to support me, all the way from Boston. I want to give a shout out to Ireland, the entire island. I love you guys, I love Ireland, thank you guys for the hospitality ever since I got here. Shout out to my team, shout out to Daz and shout out to MF Pro, I love you guys. It feels amazing to be here. Hard work, dedication, discipline, never giving up on myself, that’s all it takes baby.
How confident were you you’d won?
I was very confident I got the job done to be honest. It was definitely a close fight, I’ve always been a fan of (Conlan) but I knew I got the job done. It was hard for him to figure me out honestly. He’s a hell of a fighter but his time’s up baby.
Your story is remarkable, going from prison to this win, how are you feeling now?
I’m crying inside right now baby, I’m crying inside baby. It feels good, it feels amazing, hard work, dedication, discipline. I want to give a huge shout out to my team – we’re here baby, we did it baby, that’s it. I love you guys. I want to thank everybody for coming out, I want to thank Ireland, this is a blessing man. Shout out to my father, an Irish man and I feel like he set this whole thing up for me baby. God is good baby.
Do you want Shu Shu Carrington?
Shu Shu, where you at baby? Let’s go, give me my shot baby, come on. You’re a hell of a fighter but it’s my turn baby, let’s go.
Doing it away from home must make it even more special
All the odds were stacked up against me, I feel like they’ve been stacked up against me my whole life, so this was just another day in the office to me. I’ve been facing adversity and trials and tribulations my whole life and you know, I’ve overcame all the battles that have been coming at me man, so never give up. All I want to say is to everybody out there, it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s never too late, never give up and always believe in yourself baby. Shout out to Mickey Conlan too, thank you for the opportunity Mick, I love you my man, I’ve always been a fan, but it’s my time respectfully man. I love you though Mick.
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Shu Shu won’t be worried
After that performance, will Shu Shu Carrington – whom Michael Conlan wants to face next – be worried? Maybe not. But you can’t see Conlan being that reserved against the American if that is indeed the next fight for the Belfast man.
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Round 10 (of 10)
That’s it! The bell rings and we are going to the judges’ scorecards!
This round absolutely belongs to Kevin Walsh, who comes out swinging after the momentum of the previous round and lands a few hits, and then he rocks Michael Conlan with another big right hand, with the Belfast man playing the evasive game to get to the bell, and he eventually does.
Both boxers embrace at the final bell and Walsh celebrates. It’s a massive step up for him and he’s performed well, but I can only see this being a Conlan win.
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Round 9 (of 10)
Michael Conlan doesn’t look willing to engage here, which is maybe not the worst approach given he’s well ahead, but right at the end of the round he’s caught by Kevin Walsh, who lands a brilliant combo and rocks Conlan… but then backs off! His corner is going ballistic as to why he didn’t attack!
Final round coming up, Walsh has to go for the jugular.
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Round of 8 (of 10)
Some good body work from Michael Conlan in that round but it’s still a fight where he looks comfortable because Kevin Walsh cannot work him out. The American is trying little jabs but he’s not even close to breaking through the Conlan defence.
What can he do in the final two rounds?
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Round 7 (of 10)
Suddenly we have a spark of life in this fight as Kevin Walsh steps forward and Michael Conlan manages to land a few on him as they eventually crash into the edge of the ring and need to be separated.
Controversy at the end of the round, too, as Walsh goes in for another flurry inside the final 15 seconds, taking advantage of Michael Conlan going into the orthodox stance again, and then swings a kick at Conlan. Missed by the referee.
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Round 6 (of 10)
Kevin Walsh lands his first punch in a while and then both fighters get one on their opponent in a quickfire exchange but, apart from those, it’s another round where we’re waiting for it to spark into life. Walsh is still really struggling to get through to Michael Conlan when the Belfast man is in the southpaw stance, which needs to change.
Only 19 power punches landed between the two fighters in the opening five rounds. Don’t think one is getting any nominations for fight of the year.
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Round 5 (of 10)
This is a real chess match as neither fighter is trying to land much, trying to work out their opponent and it’s making for a really intriguing fight.
All the punches that are being landed now are coming from Michael Conlan but, at the same time, they’re not big hits. One body shot at the end draws a reaction from the crowd and probably wins that round, but only just. Kevin Walsh needs to be more aggressive, as he looked in the opening two rounds.
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Round 4 (of 10)
The most uneventful round of the fight as neither boxer lands a punch, the closest either comes is when Kevin Walsh goes for a punch and misses, and Michael Conlan goes for the counter and just skims the American.
The round ends with Conlan warned for a hit to the back of the head of Walsh as they grapple.
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Round 3 (of 10)
Best round of the fight for Michael Conlan thus far as he lands a strong early jab and then backs it up with a strong shot to the body inside the final 30 seconds. That’s the first round that you can comfortably say went his way.
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Round 2 (of 10)
Michael Conlan is bleeding quite profusely from his cut that is directly between his eyes, so it’s not the worst placed but there’s a lot coming from it.
Kevin Walsh has settled really well and has been the more aggressive of the two, and a little exchange towards the end of that round is edged by the American who looks comfortable in the close exchanges. Conlan appears to be having more success when he stands orthodox, but he keeps switching between it and southpaw.
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Round 1
It takes over two minutes for either boxer to throw a punch and then all of a sudden Kevin Walsh takes the initiative after Michael Conlan opens the barrage, landing a couple of good combos towards the end of the round that staggers Conlan.
Conlan’s legs look good early but Walsh rattled him towards the end.
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Ding ding!
We are under way at the SSE Arena!
Ten rounds for the WBC international featherweight championship!
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Now time for Conlan
It’s a short walk to the ring at the SSE Arena, so there’s not much time for him to lap up the adulation of the crowd but the cheers are loud.
It’s almost time for the main event!
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Walsh in first
He walks out to a small smattering of boos to Tiesto’s The Business.
He looks assured.
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Time for the ring walks!
Here we go, we are just about ready for the fight to get under way at the SSE Arena!
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https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/comebacks-can-be-disastrous-for-boxers…-but-heres-why-michael-conlan-is-different-ahead-of-crunch-belfast-bout/a/141072684.html
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